Community Urged to Get Behind Battery Recycling Opportunity

Hinchinbrook Shire Council are now accepting used household batteries and unwanted mobile phones for recycling purposes via their Ingham office, and are calling on residents to recycle these items to prevent them going to landfill.

Cr Lancini said that Council staff had identified an opportunity to assist the community recycle and have installed a battery recycling and mobile phone depository in the foyer of Council’s Main office.

“Over 8,000 tonnes of batteries go into landfill each year. Batteries are one of the most dangerous common waste items discarded by Australian households. Many are made from heavy metals and harmful elements such as nickel, cadmium, lead and mercury, which can pollute soil and water and harm wildlife and humans.”

“Battery recycling is aimed at reducing the number of batteries being disposed as general waste and ending up in landfill,” Cr Lancini said.

Australia has one of the fastest take-ups of new technology per capita than many countries in the world. With Mobile Muster estimating that there are over 22 million unwanted mobiles in homes across the country.

“On average Australians replace their handsets every 18-24 months. That means there’s a lot of mobile phones and their batteries lying around in cupboards and drawers, not in use.”

“Over 90% of the materials in mobile phones, batteries and chargers can be recycled. However if not handled well at the end of their life, they can be a threat to the environment.”

“I encourage all residents to consider our environment and ensure that they are discarding batteries in an environmentally way,” Cr Lancini said.

Residents wishing to recycle house hold batteries can deliver these batteries or unused mobile phones to Council’s Main Office 25 Lannercost Street, Ingham during office hours.

Other battery types, including lead acid batteries such as those found in vehicles can be recycled at both the Warrens Hill Waste Management Facility and the Halifax Transfer Station.

For more information about Recycling in the Hinchinbrook Shire, visit Council’s website Recycling page.